Watched 'Trolland' with very mixed expectations, veering towards the negative. On one hand, there was some good talent on board with childhood treasure Dick Van Dyke, prolific voice actress Debi Derryberry and Jerry O'Connell (a dependable actor who debuted in 'Stand By Me', which has some of the best ever child acting in film). As well as my love for animation and my want to see anything regardless of age, studio or quality.
On the other hand, there were also the issues of the trailer looking absolutely terrible, it has to be down there as one of the all-time worst animated trailers. And that it was made by The Asylum, who (with the odd surprising exception) churn out countless abominations year after year, ripping off anything it can lay its hands on and being significantly cheaper in quality, one expects that seeing their efforts and get it without fail nearly every time. 'Trolland' is yet another one of their abominations, one of their worst that year perhaps, with my reservations being proved right. That it makes a mockery of, and rips off, 'Trolls', which to me was an enjoyable film, is the least of its problems.
The worst thing? The animation by far. Have seen some bad-looking animation recently, but that in 'Trolland' takes the cake and insultingly too. Everything looks flat and there are no detailed or vibrant textures. Worst of all are the character designs and the way the characters move, saying that the characters look ugly is being too kind, even describing them as deformed looking would be too kind, likewise with traumatising, the female characters in particular. And the way they move should come with a health warning for particularly epileptics, because never in animation have there been more seizure-inducing character designs (especially the protagonist).
Despite the talent in the vocal cast, and bless them they do their best, they are hopelessly and shamefully let down by the voices not fitting at all with the characters. Particularly for the far too mature-sounding protagonist by not just a few years but like over twice the age of the character. Only Dick Van Dyke fits in his role, and even then he doesn't even sound that interested when in his prime he was one of the most energetic and likable performers around.
As well as being poorly recorded, making some sound creepy, and the lip synching being some of the sloppiest in animation history. And not just a little, we're talking never fitting with the mouth movements or the dialogue.
None of the characters engage, there's no development to them whatsoever or distinct personality traits while some are irritating and others will cause nightmares. The villain is too much of an idiot to be taken seriously, there is never anything menacing about him, so the conflict is never convincing.
Story-wise, 'Trolland' is paper thin, repetitive and ever so dull in pace. One actually not only feels its short length but feels it almost in slow motion effect. The script will insult younger and older viewers alike, nothing funny or sophisticated, otherwise being juvenile and awkwardness overkill. The music is forgettable at best and is often discordant in alternative to dynamic to what's going on.
In conclusion, an abomination. 1/10 Bethany Cox
